Christmas Cheer

[The Count]

Actually Bo... I know where that song's from. It's the song sung by little Cindy Lou Who in the feature film version of How The Grinch Stole Christmas, starring Jim Carey as the Grinch. Hope this helps. Now Lisa, post more story or we'll fire the frozen fouls at ye!

 

[TogetherAgain]

Children Singing

Animal did not know how long he stayed in the fireplace, staring up the chimney, hoping, watching, listening.

There was no sound of sleigh bells. There was no sound of hooves on the roof. There was no distant, sweet laugh of ho, ho, ho…

But there was the sound of soft footsteps coming down the stairs.

“…Animal?” a quiet voice said.

Animal slowly turned around to see Robin sitting down just outside of the fireplace.

“Isn’t it kind of cold in there?” Robin asked quietly.

Animal sighed and looked at the fireplace around him.

“And dirty…” Robin said softly. “You should come back in here. If you’re in the fireplace, there’s no room for Santa to come in.”

Animal looked up at the chimney. Then he slowly climbed out of the fireplace.

“Do you think he’ll like the cookies?” Robin whispered, eyeing the plate and the glass of milk.

Animal shrugged and sighed, looking down.

“I think he’ll be here soon,” Robin whispered. “Wanna wait for him together? Maybe we’ll see him!”

Animal hesitated, and then looked at the window. “…San-ta…”

Robin took his hand. “Come on!” he whispered, and he led the drummer to an armchair that, ever so conveniently, perfectly faced the fireplace. They crawled into the chair and settled in to watch… and wait…

*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*​

Very quiet footsteps entered the room. Twinkling eyes spotted the drummer and the little frog, curled up in the armchair, sound asleep. There was a soft, low, and yet very merry chuckle.

Silent as shadows, hands opened a big bag and began pulling out presents, carefully placing each and every one under the tree.

When all the presents had been set into place, the very quiet footsteps made their way to the coffee table. Hands brought the cookies and the glass of milk to lips, and then set the glass back down.

The very quiet footsteps moved once more, this time stopping in front of the armchair so that the hands could bestow a pat on the head to each of the chair’s sleeping occupants. “Merry Christmas,” a quiet, gentle voice whispered.

Mere moments later, Animal urgently woke Robin up, his eyes wide. “Sleigh bells!” he whispered. “Sleigh bells!”

Robin sat up, rubbed his eyes, and looked under the tree. He looked at the coffee table, at the empty glass and plate. “Santa’s been here!” he whispered excitedly.

“Sleigh bells!” Animal whispered urgently. He picked Robin up and, carrying the little frog, crawled back into the fireplace, eagerly looking up. “Shh… sleigh bells!”

Robin looked up as well, straining to hear. He frowned. “…Animal, it’s just the wind—OH!” His face lit up, and he looked at Animal. “I hear it!”

“Shhh!” Animal whispered.

They stared up the chimney for what seemed like a long time, listening to their sleigh bells in the dark Christmas night.

*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*​

“MERRY CHRISTMAS!”

The entire house seemed to ring with the greeting. The Muppets eagerly raced down the stairs for Christmas morning. There were piles of presents all around the tree, the stockings were all stuffed, and Robin and Animal were already there, passing out presents and excitedly announcing the events of the night.

“SANTA! SANTA!”

“We heard SANTA!”

“SLEIGH BELLS!”

“We fell asleep, but—we woke up right after he left! We heard the bells!”

Floyd slung an arm around Animal’s shoulders. “Looks like Santa Claus came to town,” he said, grinning.

“SANTA REAL!” Animal triumphantly declared, and Floyd laughed his low, scratchy chuckle.

“Merry Christmas, everybody!”

“MERRY CHRISTMAS!”

“Merry CHRISTMAS!”

“MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!”

“MERRY Christmas!”

The wrapping paper was ripped to shreds, the presents all opened and, for the most part, set to immediate use, or destruction, or both. At some point, they started to eat some breakfast, and soon after that, they began to gather for even more carol singing. (No, they had not tired of singing the night before. It was Christmas, after all, and besides, they are the Muppets.)

As they played and sang, Zoot sat off to the side, his saxophone in his lap, looking at the shiny, brand new whistle in his palm.

To Zoot. From Santa Claus.

The saxophonist nodded and looked up, out the window. “Thanks, Santa. …’Bout time,” he whispered. He took a deep breath and gave his shiny new whistle a long, hard blow.

It was about that time when someone tried to use the microwave. Suddenly, all of the lights, and just about everything else electrical, turned off.

Considering all of the lights and other decorations plugged in all over, around, and inside of the house, they all knew whom to blame for that.

“GON-ZO!”

“…Merry Christmas?”

And they all laughed.

*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%**%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*

Close your eyes and listen; the sweetest bells of Christmas ring deep inside your heart.​

 

[Beauregard]

It's Chriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiistmas!

I'm so glad that Zoot finally got his whistle! And, also, did I mention that the explanation that Santa doesn't have to visit those who don't celebrate Christmas was just great?

 

[AnimatedC9000]

Aww, Zoot got his whistle! Animal got his faith back! There was caroling! All the lights/electronical devices went off!

Not sure if the last one was good or not, but...

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

(Or, as a certain person [currently blowing a whistle] once said [very recently, I might add], "Happy Hanukkah...")

 

[TogetherAgain]

(Why do you think it took so long for Zoot to get that whistle from Santa? )

 

[RedPiggy]

That was awesome!

 

[Beauregard]

I forgot to mention that I loved the lights going out! Go Gonzo! And it's funnier still when you bear in mind that I originally read it as, "Everyone decided to use the microwave."

 

[The Count]

Is that it?
Not sure, the author hasn't said if it's over. So, how'd you like it?
Waldorf: I don't know, I slept through the whole thing.
Statler: Well, you didn't miss much.

*Didn't understand the bit with Zoot and his whistle.
Happy holidays to all my forum friends.

 

[TogetherAgain]

Yes, that's it. I said in the first post it would be five shots, which it is now, and the little italicized moral-type-ish note at the end is my little signature to note the end of the story, at least here on MC. No, I don't really expect anyone to know that, considering it's been three years or so since I finished a story on here. Call it a holiday miracle that I finally completed one.

As for Zoot, well... In "Snowflakes," he said Santa owed him a whistle. In "Children Singing," he got a whistle from Santa. Cute little bookending type thing. Beyond that, you know about as much as I do. Characters can just be so secretive about some things...

 

[The Count]

, waking up: Huh wha?
It's okay, go back to sleep, Santa landed already.
Oh... Okay...

*Thanks and glomps the Lisa for a cute fun Christmassy story. You should write more of this fanfic stuff more often, finish your other stories. But no pressures, is okays.

*Offers Lisa new wrapped polka-dot tied teddy bear.